SSTTRRAATTHHFFIIEELLDD RROOTTAARRYY NNEEWWSS TThhee WWeeeekkllyy BBuulllleettiinn ooff tthhee RRoottaarryy CClluubb ooff SSttrraatthhffiieelldd IInncc..

DDiissttrriicctt 99669900,, NNeeww SSoouutthh WWaalleess,, AAuussttrraalliiaa

President Trevor Duxbury

Secretary Rod McDougall

Treasurer Peter Smith

Bulletin Editor Angelo Franco

Bulletin Printed By Selectprint

Web: www.strathfieldrotary.org.au

APOLOGIES OR GUESTS : Phone: 9746 0397 (Eric Khu)

(Before 4pm Tues): Email: brontin@bigpond.com

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

February is World Understanding Month

TREV’S TIDINGS “They say such nice things about people at their funerals that it

makes me sad to realize I’m going to miss mine by just a few days.” Garrison Keillor, ‘Lecture in San Francisco’, Lake Wobegon Days, 1984

This week, the after-dinner presentation is by Robyn Hawes, a member of

the Rookwood Trust and president of the Friends of Rookwood. Dead set,

it may be a topic about which we may wish to bury our heads in the sand.

On the other hand, after the presentation, some of our preconceptions

may go up in smoke. It is a partners night and I hope that we can continue

the trend of increasing attendances we have witnessed over recent

weeks.

This week we will also be honoured by the presence of representatives

from the local Probus Clubs. They are President Harry Burness and Val

from Strathfield Mixed Probus Club, President Ian Morrison and Bridget

from South Strathfield Mixed Probus, and President Margaret Crisp from

Strathfield Ladies Probus.

Thank you PDG Harley for your well-researched and fascinating

presentation last week about one of the more infamous, and less well-

known, episodes in Australia’s history. As was said on the night, it was not

the story that one gets taught in school.

Last week, Tara Kent and Sophie Evans showed us how new technology,

specifically the IPad, is having a significant impact on the way staff at

Chalmers Road School are communicating with their students. Following

the presentation, I was delighted to be able to present a $1000 cheque to

the principal, Wendy Milburn, to which I hope we can add later in the year

the proceeds of our Trivia Night.

Also last week, I was a little surprised to find that, at the end of the

meeting, one of our commitment sheets had failed to circulate, and none

of the quilt raffle tickets had been sold. They will be circulating again this

week. The commitment sheet was the one for selling ‘End Polio Now’ pins

at Westfields Burwood next Thursday, February 23. The shifts are only an

hour and a half long so that parking will be free. Not too much to ask of

Rotarians I would have thought. Admittedly, most shifts are during the

day but, hopefully, some of our retirees might be able to help out.

Finally, I assume you have all been leaving your District Conference

registration until the last minute. Well, that minute is almost upon us.

Strathfield is still one of the largest clubs in the District. Surely, on the

Saturday night, we can fill a table or two and get into the spirit of the

night. Senator Allan Teale will be Roman (roamin’) around and

encouraging you all toga (to go) and have some Colosseum (colossal, yes I

am mixing Greek with Roman) fun. We also need some ideas for our

Roman Standard.

Remember Reach Within to Embrace Humanity

President Trevor

TONIGHT'S MEETING

Rookwood, “The Place to See BEFORE You Die”

Robyn Hawes Introduced by Harley Tarrant Thanked by Connie Galletta

CONGRATULATIONS

BIRTHDAYS 22 Feb Anne Manenti

WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES 19 Feb George and Afaf Helou

ANNOUNCEMENTS President Trevor Duxbury

Presentation to Chalmers Road School

Ann Sahajdak (School Admin), Wendy Milburn (Principal), Trevor Duxbury (President, Rotary Club of Strathfield), Sophie Evans (ICT coordinator) and Tara Kent (relieving Assistant Principal)

Secretary Rod McDougall

Update of Members Directory being prepared.

Director Bradley Ayres (Community Service)

Commitment Sheets for:- 1) BBQ on Cleanup Australia Day, Airey Park 4/3/12 2) BBQ Reclink Games at Henson Park 18/3/12 3) Westfield Burwood Pin Day 23/2/12

FUTURE CLUB MEETINGS

DATE PRESENTATION

22/02/2012 Adventures on the New Guinea Goldfields

Michael Waterhouse, Economist & Historian

29/02/2012 Meriden Interact "Cambodia" Presentation

Paul White, Karinne Bedingfield and Interact

Representatives

7/03/2012 Council on the Move

Strathfield Council Representatives

14/03/2012 Mushrooms in a Changing World

Geoff Seymour, General Manager,

Australian Mushroom Growers Association

FUTURE EVENTS

16/02.2012

“The Norman & Rose Lindsay Gallery”. Helen Glad,

7PM at the Breakfast Point Country Club, 72 Village Drive, Breakfast Point. $25 per head

23/02/2012 Polio-Plus pins at Burwood Westfield

04/03/2012 BBQ for Cleanup Australia Day in Airey Park

18/03/2012 BBQ at Henson Park Marrickville for the Reclink

Australia Games for the Disadvantaged

23/03/2012 2012 District Conference Penrith Panthers.

Including Rotary Expo with over 30 stalls.

25/04/2012

Wednesday

Anzac Day Breakfast Cape Cabarita (Transfer Meeting)

02/05/2012 Membership Evening

May 2012 Strathfield Rotary Club Charity Golf Day

29/06/2012 Friday

Club Changeover

CLUB STATISTICS (from Club Meeting 08/02/2012) Attendance: - 33members Apologies: - 11 Non-Apologies: - 7

Partners:- 3

Guests:- 5

85’ers 2

LOA:- 2 (Kevin & Suzanne Freund until 18 Feb)

Raffle $290.00 Sergeant $124.15

Progress Report by President Trevor Duxbury A key 2011-12 objective is to reinvigorate club and prepare for District 9675 entry in 2013, in particular to address decline in club participation and membership. Plans set within context of RI theme, “Reach Within to Embrace Humanity”, and RI President Kalyan Banerjee's three emphases: family, continuity and change.

Family

Objective set for one partners’ night per month and increased partner involvement in activities.

To date, six Wednesday meetings designated as partners nights.

Five restaurant nights, organised by PE Ray Wilson. Have had Fun and Games at Broughlea and croquet night social events. Two club transfer meetings involving partners (Burwood RC Melbourne Cup, and Breakfast Point).

Continuity Objective to find the things we do well and do them better.

Dave Martin organised very successful Police Officer of the Year and Pride of Workmanship awards.

Led by PP Kevin Freund, supported two candidates for Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, involved in Rotary Youth Driver Awareness program, supported student Citizenship Awards and continued Literature Extension Program with Strathfield Girls High School.

PP Roger Vince led efforts continuing strong relationship with the Meriden Interact group.

Bradley Ayres ensured barbecues a great success, particularly in terms of community visibility. Barbecues provided for The Infants’ Home at Ashfield, the SES in Strathfield Square, the Cook’s River Ecofestival in Freshwater Park, Carols in Strathfield Park, the Strathfield Spring Festival, and the Resolution Run at Olympic Park. We have been out there!

Donations made to the Homebush West Primary School Wrap with Love Knitting Club, Operation Publish Me, a joint initiative between the Catholic University and Westmead Children’s Hospital, to Chalmers Road Special School (Carols raffle), and computers (donated by Denise Taylor) and cash to the Strathfield School for Seniors.

Change Club has seen much change and many new initiatives this year:

Club meeting format amended.

New constitution and by-laws approved at AGM, organised by PP Harley Tarrant, PP Joe Saad, PP Rod McDougall.

A different kind of Christmas Party!

Programs sale fundraiser at the Muscle Car Masters at Eastern Creek organised through PP Grahame True.

Sunset on The Sydney fundraiser this week, organised by PP Peter Manenti

Proposals submitted to Strathfield Council involving a graffiti removal project and a Rotary Rotunda in Edwards Park, organised by IPP Peter Smith.

Three new standing committees established within club to bring emphasis activities.

Chris Virgona chairing Membership Standing Committee. Poster has been created showing who we are and things we do (displayed at our recent barbecues). Flyer and business card invitations produced for prospective members.

David Martin (Westpac) appointed chair of Rotary Foundation Standing Committee. Unfortunately, David unable to fulfil role and ceased to be a member of club in November.

Naveed Chaudhry chairing Public Relations Standing Committee, in attempt to attract younger members.

Other priorities have limited his involvement. PP Ray McCluskie has set up our Facebook page.

Plans Donations planned for Shelterbox, Rotarians Against Malaria, and

Ranfurly Library Service, organised by Ian Johnson.

“End Polio Now” pins project with Burwood RC at Burwood Westfield 23 February. Volunteers required.

Ugandan school project. School not eligible for RI matching grant. Other possibilities being pursued by PP Rod McDougall.

Bowelscan Program about to commence organised by Suzanne Freund. Assistance required.

More barbecues! Clean Up Australia Day activities in Airey Park and Reclink Australia Community Cup, both in

March. Organised by Bradley Ayres.

Membership drive in May, organised by Chris Virgona.

Anzac Day on a Wednesday. Traditional breakfast will be transfer meeting.

More restaurant nights. St Patrick’s Day at Broughlea in March., Visit to the Alvaros at their Bowral home, probably in May.

A fundraising golf day in aid of The Infants’ Home, possibly early May.

Trivia Night in support of Chalmers Road Special School.

Youth Achievement Awards, probably in late May-early June.

District Conference in March.

Changeover Dinner, on Friday 29 June.